Timing device.



G. W. FERDON.

TIMING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13. 1811.

1 ,26 1,91 5. Patented A r. 9, 1918.

GUY w. FERDON, or CRESSKILL, new JERSEY.

TIMING DEVICE- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

Application filed June 13, 1917. Serial No. 175,441.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUY W. FERDON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Cresskill, county of Bergen, State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Timing Devices; and

I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to timing devices of a type in which the lapse of time is measured by the passage of grains of sand, or similar material, through a restricted opening from one compartment to another, that is, devices of the hour glass type.

Thematerial employed is usually fine even sand although sometimes mercury or even small shot are used for the purpose. In case granular solid materials like sand are used, it is necessary that the two compartments should be shaped alike atthe points of discharge from one to the other, in order that therate of flow may be kept uniform.

Devices of this kind are used in many relations, for instance, in cooking; that is, in

. cooking eggs, and were formerly used much closeness of observation; and, moreover, the

more generally than now for measuring the lapse of time. Many things have to be done within a time limit. The time measuring device should always be conspicuously in view of the observer or performer. The ordinary wrist watch is a device 'which can be kept in view with considerable ease in many relations, but the use of a wrist watch involves a certain mental tension when short periods of time are being observed or measured, and thus distracts somewhat from the observer is not always sure to catch or remember the beginning of the period. Of

course stop watches and other delicate in-,

struments may be used, but these require even more attention.

My invention relates to devices for measuring short periods of time easily and with certainty. It consists in general of a device of the hour glass. type mounted on a suitable frame, the frame being provided with a holder or clamp wherebythe device may be held for observation in any suitable manner. o

In the Figure 1 is a nt view of my device;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a top View;

Fig. 4 is an outline showin my device attached to the standard of a te ephone;

Fig. 5 shows the device clamped upon the fuel, supply tube of a gas stove;

Fig. 6 shows the device clamped upon the thumb of an observer;

Fig. 7 indicates the device held by the spring clamp being thrust into a crack;

Fig. 8 shows the device with the spring arms spread so that the ends of the arms may engage with nails or tacks; and

Fig. 9 shows my device in the inclined position.

is provided at the top and bottom with openings 3, whereby the frame may be suspended upon a nail if desired. The frame itself I may make of reflecting material whereby in certain conditions of light, the flow of the sand or other similar material, may be observed more readily by reflection than by direct light. It is preferably longer and wider than the glass, whereby it acts as a buffer or protector for the glass.

Secured upon the frame is a loop 4 passing around the waist of the hour glass to hold it in position on the frame, and upon the back of the frame are secured two wire spring arms 5, each arm having a free or floating end 6,. said end being bent in an outwardly or diverging direction, as shown 7. Said arms may be secured to some other part of the frame or to the loop, if

desired. The arms themselves are shown as curved. The wires are soldered or otherwise securely attached to the frame, and the device may be used for a variety of purposes, and in a variety of ways. Instead of wire I may use, in some instances, springs of .flat metal, but I prefer to make the springs of wire and to give the ends a gradual incline so that the two arms constitute a wedge with compressible sides, for insertion into a crevice. These arms constitute generally adaptable support-engaging means or tentacles. They make an invertible and vertically symmetrical clampu By pressing the gripping arms upon the standard of a telephone, my instrument is held by gripping or frictional engagement, where it may be watched in order not to overtalk the time limit. A telephone company usually establishes a three minute limit for one toll fee, and in order that this limit may not be over-stepped I customarily provide the hour glass with sand enough to run through in a little less than three minutes,- say two minutes and fifty seconds, so that the subscriber or user will haveample warning not to exceed his time. If the device is to be used for an old style box telephone or a wall telephone, all that is necessary is to bend out the arms flat, or at least until the ends 7 become substantially flat with the wall, and secure them in place through tacks driven through these ends, or the device may be suspended by means of the holes 3, engaging nails.

In certain instances, as I have indicated,

.it is necessary to strictly limit the time of work. For instance, in mixing concrete it is necessary that the mixing act be made thorough and be completed in as brief a time as possible. In such a case as this the foreman uses one of my instruments clamped upon his thumb or upon two fingers of his left hand, and he has it always in view so that he can gage and direct his workmen accordingly. He does not have to lift his eyes to a time piece of the usualjdial t e. For cooking also the device is very use 1, and particularly for cooking objects or substances which it is desired not to over-cook, as eggs, oysters, clams, etc. In this case the device may be carried on the thumb,

clamped around the gas pipe, or a broom handle, or on the handle of a saucepan, or even clamped in the button hole of a vest or coat, the out-turned ends 7 serving to hold the device in this position with ample security.

The angular shaped ends of the arms also, as stated, constitute a sort of wedge at the ends of the elastic sides so that the arms may be thrust into any suitable crevice, like the crevice between a desk slide and the top of a desk, and the timer held there with security. The ends may be sprung together also and the two thrust into any vertical crevice like the keyhole of a desk, and the device held there. It may also be used for incline timing the music lessons of children, (actual time, not metric time), and when used this way the device may be inserted between the space where the music rack comes out and the bod of the piano.

It wil be observed that the arms which I have shown constitute with one of the ends of the frame, a sort of triple support whereb enough, or the material fine enough, or fluid enough, it will, .in this position, also act as a timing device. To make this effective it is necessary that the ends 7 of the arms come beyond the center of gravity of the device as a whole, when the upper member of the hour glass contains the load. Of course, as the sand or other material passes through, the center of gravity shifts, and the device becomes more secure. I have shown this in Fig. 9. Tipped the other wa by the indicated finger, the timer is revers This reversing I may effect b simple downward pressure upon the u ti ted end. 7

I wish to be understoo as intending to have my invention cover all substantial equivalents thereof, and my claims to be interpreted accordingly. I v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Incombination, an hourlass, a supporting frametherefor and c amping and supporting wire spring arms secured to the bac of said frame, said arms being yieldable verticall andfhorizontally and generally adaptab e for insertion in a crack or crevice, or for clamping a post or pipe.

2. In combination, an hour glass, a frame to which said glass is clamped and upon which it is supported, and a tentacular spring clam secured to the back of said frame, said 'ame adapted to grip supports of varied character.

3. In a timing device, in combination, an hour glass, a frame to which said glass is clamped and upon which it is supported, and a sprin clamp with round arms secured to said frame, whereby said frame may be secured to any suitable support.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature. I

GUY W. FERDON.

the timer may be supported n an position, and if the arms are long, 

